Progress being made on scrapping sow stalls

The Australian pork industry says 60 per cent of producers are now 'sow stall free'.

Sow stalls confine a pregnant pig in a small space for the duration of the pregnancy.

The production technique raised animal welfare concerns, leading to a phase out of the sow stalls by the industry.

Andrew Spencer, CEO of Australian Pork Limited, says their definition of 'sow stall free' still means some time will be spent in stalls.

But he says it is necessary to stop piglets being crushed by their mother.

"There have been some bodies that have complained about that little 10 per cent period, that they're still in some fairly confining situations, but that's for very good reasons, because one of those is in a farrowing crate at the end of pregnancy.

"That farrowing crate, we believe, is protecting the lives every year of between half a million and two million piglets."